Out of FIFA 23's many formations, the 3-5-2 is one that tends to get overlooked, as has been the case for many of the previous FIFAs. The 3-5-2 formation is probably not what a lot of people would call meta, but it is certainly a viable formation that can be used for some pretty spicy attacking football that keeps an opponent confused.
The 3-5-2 may be a bit weak in defense, but with the right setup and changes to tactics, while in-game, it can basically become a 5-at-the-back with wingers coming back. Players that can double up as both a Winger and a Fullback are perfect for this formation and will give users the versatility that the formation is so popular for.
Updated February 26, 2023 by Ritwik Mitra: FIFA 23 is one of the best releases in this long-running football series, and has wowed players with the substantial improvements it has made. Players who had something negative to say about past entries love the changes FIFA 23 has made. The simple act of playing a match feels familiar yet wholly different in ways that only fans of past FIFA titles can really point out.
Players who slowly come to grips with the title and its strengths will realize that a good formation is important to ensure the highest chances of victory. Generally, most people don't recommend a 3-at-the-back formation in FIFA 23, since the revolutionary nature of this formation doesn't translate all that well in the games. However, the following tips will ensure that players who are adamant about using a 3-5-2 formation will find themselves winning more often than not.
The Prominence of 3-5-2 In Modern Football
The idea of using 3-at-the-back didn't gain prominence until Antonio Conte used his patented 3-4-3 to great effect for clubs like Juventus and Chelsea. This propelled the former to win back-to-back Scudettos, while helping the latter bounce back and win the Premier League in his first season. After witnessing the success of this formation firsthand, many top coaches started using a 3-4-3 or its variation, the 3-5-2, in Europe's top leagues to great effect.
The wing-backs are one of the most integral parts of a formation, with three defenders at the back. These defenders are responsible for stretching the width of the pitch while also providing additional cover to defenders. A 3-5-2 formation that's carried out successfully can be a defensive stronghold while also helping out the attack in its own way, although this formation can be countered easily if the wingbacks aren't tracking back in time to cover up any vulnerable areas of the pitch.
Using The 3-5-2 Formation In FIFA 23
To set up a 3-5-2's custom tactics in FIFA 23, gamers will want to do the following:
- Defensive Style: Balanced
- Defensive Width: 55
- Defensive Depth: 65
- Offensive Build Up Play: Fast Build Up
- Offensive Chance Creation: Direct Passing
- Offensive Width: 60
- Players In Box: 4
- Corners: 3
- Free Kicks: 3
As with all team setups, gamers should adjust and tweak as necessary to complement their individual playing style. Not much will need to be changed from these 3-5-2 custom tactics, perhaps just a bit more width on the wings for players who like to use their wingers a lot.
To set up a 3-5-2's player instructions, gamers will want to do the following:
- Goalkeepers: Leave as default
- Wingers/Fullbacks: Put on Come Back on Defense as well as Stay Wide
- Center Backs: Default
- Center Defensive Midfielder: Put on Stay Back While Attacking and Cover Center
- Midfielders: Put both on Get Forward and Stay Central
- Strikers: Put one on Come Back on Defense, put both on Stay Central
As with the custom tactics for this formation, gamers can adjust the player instructions on the 3-5-2 as necessary if they have players that call for slight changes or to suit their individual play style.
The 3-5-2 is probably better suited to more advanced players, or ones that don't tend to take FIFA so seriously and stay away from competitive modes in favor of more laid-back, perhaps even offline game modes such as Career Mode. There's no denying that this formation has its fair share of issues in FIFA 23, which make it a bit hard to use against veterans. However, players who don't mind just kicking back and simulating their version of football instead of trying to use the most tried-and-tested formations will have a great time with the 3-5-2 formation in FIFA 23.
FIFA 23 is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.